Wacom Cintiq 24HD

It mightn’t be as mainstream as Apple’s new Thunderbolt Display, but we have a feeling that the new Cintiq 24HD ($2,499) is going to be an object of lust for graphic designers, other creative professionals, and regular folk alike. This behemoth interactive monitor combines a 16:10 ratio, 1920x1200-pixel HD screen with the company’s pen technology, and is capable of detecting 2048 levels of pen pressure. You can write directly on the screen to interact with drawing and painting apps. Drooling yet?

Rather than putting users in the awkward position of needing to reach across a desk to interact with an upright display, Cintiq 24HD comes to you whenever it’s needed: there’s an arm with 75° of range, pivoting from 2° to 77°, while the display itself moves between 88° and 165°. It connects to DVI, Display Port, or VGA ports, but the company recommends one of the first two options. This means you’ll probably be connecting with a Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter that you pick up yourself. Cintiq 24HD is compatible with all the big titles such as Adobe CS5 and Autodesk Sketchbook; also included are a Wacom pen and pen stand, so you can get started on your masterpieces right out of the box.